3 months • Build your own SNES game • Make SNES history
Introduction
After last year's SNES DEV Game Jam was such a great success with many participants and fantastic games, we want to make it a regular event. The SNES deserves some love :-)
So welcome to the SNES Dev Game Jam 2026!
How to start
This jam is primarily aimed at those who already have experience programming on the SNES. However, newcomers to SNES homebrewing who would like to give it a try are also very welcome!
You may find useful tools here:
- libSFX (asm): https://github.com/Optiroc/libSFX
- PVSnesLib (C): https://github.com/alekmaul/pvsneslib
- SNDK (Higueul): https://github.com/Kannagi/SNDK
- 64tass Assembler https://sourceforge.net/projects/tass64/
- VBCC C-Compiler http://www.compilers.de/vbcc.html
You may find useful information and help here:
https://snes.nesdev.org/wiki/Audio_drivers
https://snes.nesdev.org/wiki/SNESdev_Wiki
https://wiki.superfamicom.org
https://problemkaputt.de/fullsnes.htm
https://discord.com/invite/3K2EAFBF84
https://forums.nesdev.org/viewforum.php?f=12
Technical restrictions:
Your SNES games must meet the following requirements:
- Game is done by yourself (no hacks, ripped musics or graphics). The use of free assets is allowed
- Team projects are allowed, please state every member that contributed and how they contributed
- Game is Lorom
- Game has max. size of 512KB
- Game uses no special chips (SA-1, Super FX etc.)
- Game uses no SRAM
- Game works on real hardware
- Game works on NTSC and PAL
Valid / non-valid entries:
- If you are a Pixel-Artist - we love your art.
If you are a Chiptune-Musician - we are amazed by your melodies.
If you are a Demo-Coder - we admire your skill.
Feel free to show your art here and connect with each other, BUT this is a Game Jam and only playable games will count as valid entries.
- This Game Jam has a start-date and a deadline. Only entries send in within this time are valid entries.
- There are technical restrictions given above on this side. Only entries which meet these restrictions count as valid entries.
After the Game Jam:
After the end of the Game Jam the games will be judged by a jury based on the following criteria:
1) Graphics: How good does the game look? Sprites, backgrounds, etc.
2) Music/Sound: How good does the game sound? SFX & Music.
3) Technical Implementation: Does the game function flawlessly / is it error-free? Are specific SNES features utilized? (e.g., HDMA effects, Mode 7, transparency, parallaxing, layer usage, etc.)
4) Controls: How easy is the game to control, is it intuitive? How good is the menu navigation? Are the hitboxes and collisions well designed?
5) Gameplay: How creative is the game concept? How much fun is the game? Do the gaming mechanics work?
However - this Game Jam isn't about rankings or placements. It's about having a great event together, developing some games, getting connected with each other and building a cool SNES homebrewing scene! Everyone who successfully develops an SNES game is a winner!
Members of the jury are:
- to be announced -
Your game on a real SNES cartridge!
Prizes & rewards
As in the previous year, we plan to create multi-cartridges containing the submitted games and send them as prizes to Game Jam participants. These cartridges will hold up to 15 games so if more games are submitted, only the first 15 (by final ranking) will be included.
To ensure the games function correctly on the multi-cartridge, they must adhere the technical restrictions mentioned above (LoROM, no special chips, no SRAM). Of course, you are welcome to further develop your game after the Game Jam and add any chips or features you like. Please note that even if you work as a team, there will only be one cartridge per submitted game.
We plan to produce 40 of those carts. Those which are not given to participants, will be sold to supporters and homebrew-enthusiasts to particially refund the production.
There might be additional prizes, but that's not certain yet.
Any questions left? Feel free to ask them in the community forum.
Good luck, have fun and let the SNES shine!